Location: Platt Fields Park, Manchester
Event: 29-30 June 2013
Report: Julian Allen
Photos: Spencer Moret
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There was yet more success for Great Britain’s riders at rounds 6 & 7 of the British Cycling BMX Series as they took the top podium positions in the elite men and championship classes.
The series travelled to Manchester for the second time in 2013, this time venturing to the outdoor track in Platt Fields Park. There were 687 entries in total across all age groups with the elite men seeing a field of 33 riders competing for the top spot.
On day one of the competition the Olympic finalist Liam Phillips totally dominated the Elite class with wins in all his motos, semi and the final. He looked totally in control throughout the day and was never troubled.
The closest challenger was Kyle Evans who showed a wheel to Phillips through the second turn but didn’t have the line. Grant Hill rode to a strong third place as he challenged Evans down the last straight.
The big coup of the day was 14-year-old Paddy Sharrock making his first elite final after holding off the series leader Curtis Manaton in the semi finals. Sharrock finished seventh in the race and showed what he is really capable of.
Phillips was looking dominant again on day two with a clean sheet of wins taking him into the final as favourite. Off the gate Manaton had other ideas and was looking for another win. Through turn one, Manaton controlled the pack as Phillips went for a move inside but slid out as his tyres just gave way.
The crash saw chaos break out in the pack which left the door wide open for Gosport’s Scott Waterhouse to make some moves into second and take a popular podium finish. Rounding off the podium was the eldest in the field, Balby Academy’s Kelvin Batey who made a great comeback with Royston’s Laurence Mapp making a great move in the last berm to take his best finish of the year in fourth.
The championship women’s class finals were controlled all weekend by Charlotte Green who won day one’s final with ease. Norwich’s Joey Gough trailed Green throughout the lap until the classes young pup Bethany Shriever showed a little more endurance and dived up the inside in the last corner for second and her best finish of the year. Green didn’t have it all her own way on day two though when Gough took the lead through the first turn.
Green battled back and took the win from a very happy Gough who was riding with her world number one plate for the last time since taking the 17+ ladies title in Birmingham last year. Gough said: “I can’t remember the last time I lead a national, even though I didn’t hold it for long.
“It’s the last time I’ll be running the W1 plate so it’s great to go out on a high.”
Shriever was trailing the leaders again when she had a coming together with Ayesha Mclelland in the last turn seeing them both go down. Taking advantage of the crash was Peterborough’s Beth Campbell who was in the right place at the right time to make 3rd her own.
Hometown hero Jacob Roberts take the win both days in the championship men with some smooth riding utilising his home track knowledge to a tee. Nottingham Outlaws Braden Bradford showed that persistence is key in day ones final as he pipped Crewe’s Ash Davey on the line after he seemingly eased up. Davey had to be content with third again on day two whilst Wrekin’s Mark Maddox gave a powerful display to take a solid second place.
In the challenge classes there was a first ever national win in the 'micro minis' of the six and under class for Burnham’s Taylor Hunt. Gosport’s Ethan Craik won the 10’s and was amongst a handful of riders who wrapped up their class wins with two rounds to go.
Mason Chidley gave the home club something to cheer about as he took the 12-year-olds apart with pure, raw BMX skill. Peckham’s Katurah Davidson took the win in the 13-14 girls on day one with club mate Blaine Ridge-Davis turning the tables on day two. Dave Ives from Preston took his first win of the year in the 30-39 cruiser after taking advantage of some last straight bar banging.
After the weather tried to put a dampener on the event, the Manchester club showed what hard work and commitment can achieve as the meeting was a great success. The final rounds of the British Cycling BMX Series will be at Gosport on 3-4 August 2013.
